Poison by Punctuation: Chalkboard Outlines Book II
This is my third time reviewing a book by Bowles on The Rebel Christian; I’m very used to her style of writing and I know what to expect from her witty and quirky characters so I knew what I was getting into when I first opened this book.
Poison by Punctuation is the second installment in this series and it certainly does not disappoint. Like the first installment, the humorous duo Emma and Leslie are back with another murder mystery. Bowles is an expert at cozy chick-lit fiction, but I’d have to disagree if you called this book cozy. The first book in this series featured a member of the school’s staff being murdered, this one was a student. I wasn’t very comfortable with the idea of a child’s death being the center of a murder mystery, especially one that’s as silly and unorthodox as this one. Then again, I think it’s fair to mention that Bowles had a very respectful approach to the case and handled it as well as a comedic detective novel could be handled.
Naturally, I enjoyed the wit and banter between the iconic duo; Emma and Leslie are the source of both humor and serious detective work, though there are definitely times where the two avenues cross paths. I appreciated their interactions with one another as well as their dedication to solving this case. Additionally, the writing was decent—just as it was in the last book—and the mystery itself was an interesting and even emotional ride.
If I had to complain, I’d say it is awfully weird the same woman continuously stumbles upon dead bodies—especially ones that are so closely tied to her workplace. I understand this is a murder mystery, murder must happen at some point or else there wouldn’t be a book, right? But does the victim always have to be someone from the same school? Does their body have to be discovered by the same person? It seems like this might be a cheesy theme in these books; if that’s the case then I’ll have to just get over it but I’d definitely like a little more creativity in the next installment, if there is one.
Despite my little complaint, I have to say this book is worth reading. I don’t think it is fit for YA readers—not because of the content, just because of the style. The main characters feel very old fashioned and dated, this is definitely more of a chick-lit or beach read for adults rather than a YA mystery novel. After reading three books by this author I’d say, as a 26-year-old woman, I would hand any book by Bowles to my mother before reading it myself or giving it to someone younger than me.
*I was given a free copy of this book, on behalf of The Rebel Christian, in exchange for an honest review*